How far is new orleans airport from carnival cruise port

New Orleans is a major destination for travellers who go for Mardi Gras in February or the whole unique vibe of the city throughout the year. This means that there are lots of options for things to do before or after your cruise and multiple ways to get to your ship to embark on your cruise.

Whether you’re driving and need to find parking or a hotel with parking, or flying in and need to get from the airports to the port area, we’ve covered all the options for you to make the best decision.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our full disclosure policy here. 

Due to the continuing global travel situation, it is possible details listed in our guides will change by the time you get to take your trip. For travel in 2022, we strongly recommend you continue to verify all key information we provide, both ahead of time and while on the road.

DRIVING

New Orleans is on Interstate 10 (I-10) and drivers coming from East or West will come this way. If you are coming from the North then you may get to drive across the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway.

Driving times from nearby major cities are:

• Birmingham, AL: 5 hours (350 miles)
• Houston, TX: 5.5 hours (350 miles)
• Jackson, MS: 3 hours (190 miles)
• Pensacola, FL:  3 hours (200 miles)

Check estimated driving times for you by entering your starting location below and pressing ENTER :

Click more options, once your route is displayed, to open google maps in a new window

If you want to park at the port, check out the options here; if you prefer to arrive the night before, check out these hotels which will let you park your car during your cruise if you stay the night.

FLYING

The primary airport for New Orlean is Louis Armstrong International Airport which lies 11-miles west of the city.

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (Code: MSY)

TThe second lowest-lying airport in the world after Amsterdam’s Schipol offers connections to all the main three airline’s hubs (American, Delta, and United) as well as many destinations served by Southwest.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Using public transport to get from the airport to the cruise terminal is not the easiest journey and we’d advise spending a little more on one of the other options.

If you do want to use public transport, then take the E-2 bus to S Carrollton and change to the 39. Then at Tulane, switch to the W-3 to minimise the walk with your luggage to the terminal. Expect the journey to take at least 90 minutes.

TAXI

With the airport not too far from the city, a taxi doesn’t cost too much, and if you are a family or group, the cost per person is competitive. Expect to pay $36 for two or $15 per person for three or more, from the airport to the New Orleans Julia Street and Erato Street Terminals if you pick up a taxi from the stand at the airport. If you want the luxury of a private transfer, the companies below can accommodate you.

Our tours and excursions partner, Get Your Guide, can provide a transfer from Louis Armstrong Airport to Julia Street and Erato Street Cruise Terminals for up to ten people. Prices are from $21.62 per vehicle, click here for more information

Offering executive saloons and minibuses, Blacklane provides transfer for between 1 and 5 people.

Airport Limousine can provide private transfers for between 1 and 8 cruise passengers.

READ MORE: Looking for more information to plan your visit to New Orleans? Check it out here!

UBER/LYFT

Uber and Lyft will cost between $35 and $50 for a transfer from Louis Armstrong Airport to the New Orleans Cruise Terminal for the standard Uber X or standard Lyft.

For a discount on your first ride click for UBER or LYFT

SHUTTLE

A shuttle can be a cost-effective way to get to the cruise terminal for smaller groups, but you may find the benefits of private transfers for larger groups are worth the extra money.

CAR RENTAL

Renting a car for just a few hours is our favourite way to get to the cruise terminal from the airport. As long as you don’t mind driving, possibly on the “wrong” side of the road for you, it gives you a private transfer that leaves to your schedule and can be surprisingly competitive with other transportation options.

With Hertz and Budget both having rental stations near the cruise terminal, there are only a couple of options for renting a car from the airport. Expect to pay around $50-$60 for a rental of a standard car for less than a day.

With both the above rental companies having rental stations in the airport it can be an easy option to land and collect your car quickly and easily.

CRUISE COMPANY TRANSFER

Paying the cruise company to get from the airport to the ship is rarely good value, especially if more than 1 or 2 people need a transfer. You will invariably be better off using one of the alternatives above. For example, Carnival prices as of April 2018 are $23.99 for one way.

HOTEL TRANSFER

With the cruise port right in the heart of the city and the airport not too far away, it could be worth looking at a hotel which provides a shuttle service to the airport. Check out our New Orleans hotels section for more info.

MAP

The map below shows the nearest main airports to New Orleans in relation to the cruise terminal.

Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission but this does not affect the price to you. Please read our full disclosure policy here. 

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